† Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love. St. Therese of Lisieux - The Little Flower
Today's Meditation“Is it not your duty to give yourself entirely to Him the same at every moment? As you advance in years, God’s benefits also become more numerous; your gratitude and, therefore, your fidelity ought also grow. God alone created your heart, and He created it for Himself alone. He alone should be its master…God does not think it too much that He should give Himself entirely to you. Live your life, therefore, entirely for Him. Give Him all and in Him you will find all.”
—Alexander De Rouville, p. 31
Daily VerseDo not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
-John 14:1-3
|
EWTN Daily Saint
|
|
St. Lawrence of RomePatron Saint of: Cooks, deacons, the poor, and firefighters
Feast Day: August 10 St. Lawrence of Rome (d. 258 A.D.) was likely a Spaniard by birth who lived in Rome while Christianity was outlawed under pain of death. He was appointed by Pope St. Sixtus II as archdeacon over the seven deacons of Rome, and held the sacred duty of tending to the Church’s wealth and distributing alms to the poor. After Pope St. Sixtus II was beheaded by Roman Emperor Valerian, along with the six other deacons, Lawrence was left as the highest-ranking clergy in Rome. He was ordered by the Roman authorities to appear before the tribunal—a summons to his execution—along with the treasures of the Church that were in his possession. St. Lawrence then quickly distributed the Church’s wealth to the poor so that the government could not confiscate it. On the appointed day, August 10th, Lawrence responded to the summons by bringing with him a multitude of the poor and crippled of Rome; these he proclaimed to be the true treasure of the Church. This angered the authorities so greatly that Lawrence was ordered to be burned alive on a gridiron. He was bound to the metal grate and slowly roasted to death over hot coals. During his torture Lawrence famously mocked his torturers by saying, “I am done on this side, turn me over.” St. Lawrence is the patron saint of many causes including cooks, chefs, comedians, deacons, librarians, students, and the poor. His feast day is August 10th.
|
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and MartyrLectionary: 618 Reading 12 Corinthians 9:6-10 Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. AlleluiaJohn 8:12 R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness
but will have the light of life, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. GospelJohn 12:24-26 Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
|
Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ!
|
From Word Among Us WAU.org
|
Daily Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10The one who supplies seed to the sower . . . will . . . increase the harvest of your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 9:10) Today is the feast of St. Lawrence, the third-century deacon who was martyred by the Roman emperor Valerian for distributing the Church’s wealth to the poor rather than handing it over to hin. You can imagine Lawrence wondering, when the emperor demanded the Church’s treasures, how he should respond. I’ll likely be killed, no matter what I do. So how can I do the most good right now? It’s a good question for us, too, whether we’re running a business or just trying to be a good neighbor. What can we do with the gifts that God has given to us? Today’s first reading helps: St. Paul says that every seed you sow matters. Charitable donations, caring words, humble actions: plant enough of these, and the Lord will “increase the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10). You’ll have a bumper crop! The problem is, those “seeds” are often in short supply. Time, patience, self-control, not to mention material resources—they’re all limited. So it’s understandable that you might reach the point where you feel you have nothing left to give. Where can you find more? St. Paul tells us that God himself, “the one who supplies seed,” will give you “all you need” (2 Corinthians 9:10, 8). You won’t find it by digging down deep within yourself, hoping to manufacture your own personal supply of strength and peace. Instead, you find it by going back to your Father and asking. Your Father knows exactly what you need. Like all martyrs, St. Lawrence received seeds of hope from the Lord, which grew into a harvest of heroism and a witness that has inspired millions. Perhaps God will give you the courage to be more generous than you thought possible, which will yield an even more bountiful harvest for those who are poor. Or maybe he will give you a deeper desire to share the gospel, which brings about a harvest of faith for other people. Don’t think you have to keep scrounging in a dwindling interior silo. Instead, develop the habit of returning to your Creator. He takes joy in giving you all you need for a rich harvest of love and generosity. “Father, give me all I need so that I am able to give to others!” Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9
John 12:24-26
|
Reflections with Brother Adrian:
|
From today's Holy Gospel: "....Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
|
From Bishop Barron: "What does the prince of this world, the devil, tell us? Hang on to yourself. Aggrandize yourself. Stay safe, protected. But Jesus has come to throw out that prince, that principle. He proposes himself as the new prince. His sign is the sign of the cross, the death that leads to transfiguration: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”
From a Spanish Reflection from a Roberto Juarez:
"More than seventeen centuries have passed since the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence. However, we continue to pronounce his name. Thousands of churches are dedicated to him. Millions of Christians know his testimony. Why? For the grain of wheat bore much fruit. Life given never ends with death. It continues to produce hope in the hearts of those who come after it.
Perhaps we are not called to the martyrdom of blood. But we are all called to the daily martyrdom of fidelity. To die a little every day to selfishness so that others may live. What would St. Lawrence say to us today? Perhaps something very simple: Do not be afraid to give your life. Do not be afraid to serve. Don't be afraid to share. Do not be afraid to put Christ above all else. Because only those who live for God discover true freedom. And only those who love until the end leave a mark that remains forever. The feast of St Lawrence reminds us that the Gospel is not a theory. It's a way of life. Jesus invites us today to be like the grain of wheat that is not afraid to fall to the ground to bear fruit. He calls us to discover that true greatness is in service. That true wealth is in charity. And that true life begins when we stop living solely for ourselves. Let us ask the Lord to grant us a generous heart like that of St Lawrence. May we learn to serve with joy. To share generously. To love without measure. And when the time of trials comes, may we remain faithful to Christ with the same courage as the holy deacon, knowing that no gift made out of love is ever lost.
May the intercession of St Lawrence strengthen our faith and help us to make our whole life an offering pleasing to God, so that we too may bear much fruit for the Kingdom." end quote.
From Brother Adrian:
First of all, thank you. Thank you for your prayers, for this weekend, we were lifted to up towards the Heavens. There, in the light, we were illuminated. There is an enlightenment in reading and studying...Christ our Lord, our Love and center of our Faith and life.
And we begin the next day, with readings that reflect a Deacon that was burned alive for what?
You must know church history, why he was killed...for the faith, of believing in Christ our Lord. Saint Lawrence was in charge of the poor, and He saw that they were the treasure of the Church.
It is true. We don't know what we have in the church. We value all the wrong things...in life.
We hate suffering, but in Heaven, they see suffering differently. And we are to see it differently too.
Saint Lawrence was remembered for his funny one liner while being burned alive "turn me over, I'm done on this side".
He was one of thousands and thousands being killed for the first 300 hundred years of our Catholic life, the first Christians. Just about all popes were slaughtered in Rome for about 300 years. And today? Rome is around but it is Catholic. That is why people say Roman Catholic. Some confused protestants think Catholics are the first evil Romans. How confused people can be, and led astray!
Yesterday, I was firing up the crowds with words and music to welcome in the new Cursillo brothers, before they came in to be heard of their testimonies.
I purposely asked "Who here is Catholic?" To my surprise, they were slow to raise hands, and not all raised hands.
Then, I asked, "Ok, now raise your hand if you are a Christian?" and not very many raised their hands!
I blurted out "You know Catholics are the first Christians in the world!" Do not be fooled by the confusion. Know what you are. Know what you are doing. Know what this is all about!
Even this morning at work, the topic of martyrs came up in quick conversations with my dispatch and other manager, and they mentioned the killing going on today, like in Iran, of Christians, but he said "but these are Christians not Catholic". And AGAIN, I blurted "yes, Catholics are the first Christians in the world!"
Beginning with Mother Mary. The first believer. The first Christ carrier. The first Saint from the Annunciation.
I said "not many people, not long ago, in Africa, Urwanda, they killed about 1 million Catholics, in an attempt to exterminate them." Did it work? No.
Did it work in Rome? No.
Will killing them all ever work? No.
It will never work. Because God is out of this world. Jesus is not only in the world but outside the world. He will not let His Kingdom fall, and why? Because it is impossible. It is like asking you to become an animal, and you are not! Sadly, people are making animals into people, and people into animals. Does that make sense? No, it does not.
For those reading this for the first time, or hearing this...these words are hard. Because it is hard to hear. It is sad news to bear when we hear of a person being slaughtered in brutal ways for what? Believe in Christ. Why? Because, ignorance of Christ is ignorance of God, and ignorance of God is ignorance of true love.
The message of the cross is spelled out "For God so LOVED the world, that He gave us" Jesus, His Only Son.
What does this mean? It means everything. The begotten son, means God has imparted Himself. It means, He has come to save us Himself and to save us from what?
Two things, sin, and death.
If only we would give these things to Him. Our sins, and our death....
What are you dying for?
|
Click for Audio
|
Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 130:5 [Psalm 130] "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;"
Word of the Lord!
|
If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment